Mayor Tossell says Councilman Koehler made false accusation in public

Mayor Bruce Tossell Monday responded to what he said were accusations of impropriety by Councilman Andy Koehler.

At the close of Monday’s City Council meeting, Tossell said he had heard that on Feb. 2, Koehler was in a local tavern and accused the mayor of “taking kickbacks.” Tossell challenged Koehler to say what kickbacks he was accusing him of taking.

Koehler said there have been some public works contracts on which no bids were taken. He also said the city’s water fee structure is unfair to residents who use small amounts of water.

“I still want to know what kickbacks I’ve been taking,” Tossell said.

He said, “I have not received one nickel,” and that when a citizen tried to give him $10 in return for a favor, he took the money to City Manager Kip Spear and told him to apply it to the citizen’s water bill.

Tossell said Koehler had accused him in a public place of illegal actions, and added, “When you’re out and you’re speaking of me, you’ve got to be speaking the truth.”

The mayor added that in the future he would consider filing a lawsuit if he feels Koehler has made any more such accusations.